Austin Parks and Recreation

Person walking a dog on a paved trail by a river lined with trees

Parks and Recreation Facilities Closures

Austin Parks and Recreation posts all closures on this page. To notify us about any closures or park or facility issues, please submit a request through Austin 3-1-1.

Closures

Park Projects

    Date of closure: February 15, 2024 until further notice
    Description: The main entry to Barton Springs Pool at the Khabele Bathhouse rotunda is closed to the public. The bathhouse itself partially reopened on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, with renovated restroom and shower spaces available inside. Please enter the bathhouse from the pool side of the building. One small area in the front parking lot remains closed for ongoing construction work. Get more information and view the updated construction map.
    Updated: June 11, 2026

    Date of closure: May 12, 2026 to late July 2026 
    Description: The 2-5 Playscape at Ramsey Neighborhood Park will be closed for renovations and enhancements. The work is anticipated to take 6 to 8 weeks, weather permitting.
    Updated: May 12, 2026

    Date of closure: May 16, 2026 to late July 2026 
    Description: The Playground at Chestnut Pocket Park will be closed for renovations. The work is anticipated to take 6 to 8 weeks, weather permitting.
    Updated: May 16, 2026

    Pools and Splash Pads

      Date of Closure: June 11, 2026 until further notice
      Description: Givens Pool has had an emergency closure on June 11, 2026. The water is being treated. There is not an exact reopening time yet.
      Updated: June 11, 2026
       

      Date of closure: June 2, 2026 to late June 2026
      Description: Ramsey Pool is closed for repainting.
      Updated: June 2, 2026 

      Date of work: June 8–14, 2026
      Description: The splash pad at Pease Park will operate from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. the week of June 8, 2026, to allow staff to conduct repair work.
      Updated: June 8, 2026

      Date of closure: June 12, 2026 until further notice
      Description: Murchison Pool is closed for mechanical repairs until further notice.
      Updated: June 12, 2026

      Trails

        Date of closure: Closed Indefinitely
        Description: Damaged by landslide. Austin Parks and Recreation is working with Public Works and Austin Transportation and Public Works to plan, design and implement improvements to the trail detour route east of the creek.
        Find information about the Shoal Creek Trail Connectivity Gaps.
        Updated: June 11, 2026
         

        Date of closure: April 27, 2026 to late June 2026 
        Description: The Shoal Creek Trail will close between Shoal Creek Blvd. and the Janet Fish Bridge from Monday, April 27 until Late June 2026 for trail maintenance and work. The trail will detour to the sidewalk along N. Lamar Blvd.
        Updated: June 11, 2026

        Date of closure: March 30, 2026 to late June 2026 
        Description: The Shoal Creek Trail is closed near the Fifth Street Bridge through Friday, May 29, for pipe and conduit repair work due to a fire in March. Austin Energy is expected to complete the work on May 29.
        Updated: March 30, 2026 

        Date of closure: September 2021 to 2026
        Description: Trail access to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Willow Street is closed due to construction. The trail access will be closed throughout construction of the 98 Red River project for an approximate duration of 64 months.
        Updated: September 2021

        Date of detour: May 11, 2026 to March 2027
        Description: Starting the week of May 11, Austin Energy staff will begin setting up equipment and preparing areas next to Brazos St. south of Cesar Chavez St. Work is expected to take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with occasional weekend work. The project will install underground electrical infrastructure along the Lady Bird Lake shoreline between Brazos Street and Trinity Street. Construction is expected to last about one year. While this part of the project does not involve a trail reroute, there will be construction activities just north of the trail. We ask trail users approaching this area to slow down and follow staff instructions.to slow down and follow staff instructions.
        Updated: May 11, 2026

        Map of construction areas along Brazos St. for Austin Energy's Duct Bank project.
        Map of construction areas along Brazos Street for AE's Duct Bank project.

        Date of detour: September 2025 to 2033
        Description: Due to the TxDOT I-35 Capital Express Central project, Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail users should expect significant north shore trail reroutes beginning September 2025 and continuing through 2033. The detour, located along the south side of East Avenue, is designed to balance safety and accessibility without crossing traffic.

        Crews are constructing a dock just west of I-35 over the next few weeks in November 2025, working between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. The dock will be approximately the size of a basketball court and used to transport construction materials and equipment needed for reconstruction of the Lady Bird Lake bridge. The community can expect an increase in noise, lighting and truck traffic in the area.

        All work on the trail and parkland is within TxDOT's right-of-way.

        Updated: September 2025

        TxDOT operations will happen on the north shore of Lady Bird Lake west of the boat ramp near the Holiday Inn between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. nightly to ensure that the trail is operational during daytime hours. The "Holiday Inn" boat ramp west of I-35 is reserved for emergency vehicles for the duration of the construction.

        Crews are constructing a dock just west of I-35 over the next few weeks in November 2025, working between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. The dock will be approximately the size of a basketball court and used to transport construction materials and equipment needed for reconstruction of the Lady Bird Lake bridge. The community can expect an increase in noise, lighting and truck traffic in the area.

        All work on the trail and parkland is within TxDOT's right-of-way.

        Trail Reroute Construction Timeline

        • September 15, 2025: Parking lot under the I-35 bridge (north shore of Lady Bird Lake) closes.
        • Late September/Early October 2025: Detour west of I-35 opens (construction expected to take 3 weeks).
        • Late November/Early December 2025: Detour east of I-35 opens following construction in November.

        East Avenue between the southbound I-35 frontage road and Nash Hernandez Sr. Road (under the I-35 bridge) is closed as crews install utilities, through early 2026. 

        Updated: September 2025

        Map of Butler Trail North Shore Detour
        The Trail Conservancy Map of TxDoT I-35 North Shore Butler Trail Detour

        Date of detour: June 2026–March 2027
        Description: Beginning in June 2026 and continuing through March 2027, the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail will be rerouted on the north shore near the Confluence and Austin Rowing Club building. The reroute is taking place so that Austin Energy can install underground electrical infrastructure along the Lady Bird Lake shoreline between Brazos Street and Trinity Street. Butler Trail users are encouraged to slow down as they approach the area and follow on-site staff instructions.
        Updated: June 11, 2026

        Map of Butler Traiil Detour
        North Shore Butler Trail Detour Map for AE's Duct Bank project.

        Facilities

          Date of closure: February 17, 2025 to 2026
          Description:  Givens Recreation Center will be closed to the public from Monday, February 17, 2025 until 2026 for major facility enhancements.
          Updated: February 17, 2025

          Park Road and Parking Lot Closures

            Date of closure: February 15, 2024 to TBD
            Description: One small area in the front parking lot on the north side of Barton Springs Pool remains closed for ongoing construction work. Get more information and view the updated construction map.
            Updated: June 11, 2026

            Diagram of parking with partially reopened status of Bathhouse showing limited parking in front of bathhouse area

            Partial Closures

              Date of closure: October 16, 2024 until further notice
              Description: The boat ramps in Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park at Lake Walter E. Long are closed until further notice as water levels are too low for boaters to safely enter and exit the lake. Lake access will remain available for shore-launched watercraft such as canoes and kayaks. All other park amenities, including volleyball courts, picnic sites, grills, and walking trails, will remain available. Austin Energy will be upgrading Decker Dam's nearly 60-year-old infrastructure. In preparation for upcoming equipment upgrades, the lake level will be gradually lowered through natural evaporation and the boat ramps will remain closed for the duration of the project for the safety of boaters. The boat ramps will reopen when water levels once again allow boaters to safely enter and exit. For more information on the repairs to Decker Dam, visit PublicInput.com/DeckerDam

              The following sites are generally closed to the public

              Austin Parks and Recreation facilities closed to the public

              • Girl Scout Cabin indoor space
              • Sunshine Camp indoor space
              • Zilker Caretaker House

              Contact

              If you have questions or concerns, email parkcomms@austintexas.gov